1+ day, 12+ hour ago  (462+ words) Merced's budget for the next fiscal year faces a shortfall of $1. 3 million, partly because of expired federal grants that help fund city firefighters. Officials are expected to work with a $461. 2 million budget, which will fund 566 full-time positions " up from 562 last…...

1+ day, 18+ hour ago  (386+ words) A San Jose man is facing three murder charges after being linked to deadly fentanyl overdoses in Los Banos, marking the first time the Merced County District Attorney's Office has charged someone with murder for allegedly dealing deadly doses of…...

4+ day, 1+ hour ago  (1107+ words) An increase in seasonal agricultural work and the end of the school year in the San Joaquin Valley are expected to mean more people spending more time working and playing outside " and potentially increase the risk of Valley Fever, a…...

1+ week, 22+ hour ago  (627+ words) The sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance" are being heard from every corner of UC Merced this weekend, as graduate Bobcats walk through the twin steel arms of the "Beginnings" sculpture, and into the next chapter of their lives. More than…...

1+ week, 2+ day ago  (1130+ words) Welcome to Political FOCUS, a column related to the upcoming June 2 primary election and the politics beat in the Merced County region. Subcribe to our free email newsletter. Do you have questions about the election? Where do the governor candidates…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago  (719+ words) When my husband and I separated, I thought finding a home for my daughters and me would be easy. We lived in Merced County so options were limited, but I was going to move to the city" of Merced and…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago  (252+ words) The Merced Focus is your go-to source for all of the races happening in this year's 2026 primary election. In order to help our readers better familiarize themselves with the races, The Merced Focus conducted debates with several candidates competing in…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago  (1753+ words) Data shows nearly 3% of returned mail-in ballots in Merced County were not received on time to be counted in 2025. The total number of rejected late ballots in Merced County was nearly seven times " and over 1, 400 ballots more " as those rejected…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago  (490+ words) Merced County law enforcement is taking another proactive approach to address crimes before they occur." That's the driving force behind the reinstatement of the STAR Team at the Merced County Sheriff's Office." The Sheriff's Tactics and Recognisance (STAR) Team is…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago  (1888+ words) Merced County residents can now start voting in the June 2 primary election, as mail ballots started going out on May 4." Among the important races, folks who live in Merced County District 3 will choose a new representative for the Board of…...